French presidency says PM Edouard Philippe and his government have resigned

[ucrdem]

Source: France24

no story yet . . . okay here we go:

Prime Minister Édouard Philippe submitted his resignation and that of his government on Friday and President Emmanuel Macron has accepted, the Élysée Palace said in a statement.

The Élysée said that Philippe would handle government affairs until a new cabinet was named.

A cabinet reshuffle had been widely expected after Macron vowed to chart a new course for the last two years of his term. It comes less than a week after a green wave swept over France in local elections, when Macron saw his young centrist party being defeated in France’s biggest cities and failing to plant local roots across the country, underscoring Macron's troubles with left-leaning voters. The reshuffle is seen as a move designed to bolster the president’s green credentials and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid.

In French government reshuffles, the prime minister tenders his or her resignation ahead of cabinet appointments but can then be re-appointed to the position.

Questions over Philippe's position have swirled since mid-June, when Macron declared he wanted to "reinvent" his presidency.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20200703-french-presidency-says-pm-edouard-philippe-and-his-government-have-resigned

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pic from CNBC:

[Budi]

1. Maybe they'll start a trend. Hey, Trump!

Seriously, this is a major shake up
Maybe its necessary

Waiting for details...yikes.

[ucrdem]

4. He seemed pretty competent to me

But Macron is having a lot of trouble and there's an election round the corner so I guess that means new faces...

[ucrdem]

2. CNBC:

French prime minister resigns paving the way for a government reshuffle

PUBLISHED FRI, JUL 3 20203:43 AM EDTUPDATED 12 MIN AGO

France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe resigned from government Friday, just days after being reelected as mayor of the northern city of La Havre.

In a statement, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said Philippe had handed in the resignation of the government, but that the current cabinet would remain in charge of governmental affairs until a new team was put in place.

In France, the president — the main political figure — selects the prime minister, who then forms the government.

As such, the resignation paves the way for a cabinet reshuffle. It comes after speculation that Macron was preparing a reshuffle to focus on the economic recovery post-coronavirus.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/03/french-prime-minister-resigns-amid-speculation-of-wider-government-reshuffle.html

[elleng]

3. 'Macron was preparing a reshuffle to focus on the economic recovery post-coronavirus,'

more than anything happening around here (until November.)

[ucrdem]

5. Macron has an election coming up too

though not until next spring if I have the math right

[ucrdem]

6. Google translation of the French version on F24:

The Élysée announces the resignation of the government of Edouard Philippe

Published on : 07/03/2020 - 09:44
Modified : 07/03/2020 - 09:44

Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe on June 29, 2020 at the Elysée Palace in Paris

Text by:
FRANCE 24
To follow
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has presented his resignation to Emmanuel Macron who has accepted it, announced the Élysée on Friday. It ensures the handling of current affairs until the appointment of the new government.

It is now official. French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe retires. He "today handed in the resignation of the government to the President of the Republic, who accepted it," said the Elysee Palace in a statement published on Friday, July 3.

The President of the Republic has chosen to separate from his Prime Minister, whose popularity rating has soared in recent weeks with the coronavirus epidemic and his re-election as mayor of Le Havre . According to a Harris Interactive poll published on June 28, 55% of French people wanted him to continue his action at the head of the government.

A cabinet reshuffle was expected after Emmanuel Macron vowed to chart a new course for the last two years of his mandate. The government will continue to run "day-to-day affairs" until a new government is appointed, the presidency added.

With AFP

https://www.france24.com/fr/20200703-l-élysée-annonce-la-démission-du-gouvernement-d-édouard-philippe
................

Well at least he's leaving on a high note . . . he was out there every day in March and April during the worst of the Covid crisis

[Laelth]

7. It's a cabinet reshuffle.

Macron will, most likely, re-appoint Philippe as PM and then task him with forming a government. I don’t think that Philippe is going anywhere.

-Laelth

[ucrdem]

8. It looks like Philippe is going to Le Havre to be mayor.

Here's the new PM, from an article in Le Monde:



Jean Castex, nommé vendredi 3 juillet premier ministre en remplacement d’Edouard Philippe, était devenu une personnalité de choix pour la majorité depuis sa mission de conseil stratégique sur le déconfinement.

https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/07/03/qui-est-jean-castex-le-nouveau-premier-ministre_6045103_823448.html

[Laelth]

9. Interesting. Thanks.

I still would not be surprised to see Philippe come back, but we shall see what we see.

-Laelth

[ucrdem]

11. He's very popular at the moment

That might be part of the problem as Macron has been cratering in the polls for some time and needs to shore up his own standing if he wants to win a second term. But yeah Philippe has been a solid PM as far as I can tell.

[ucrdem]

10. BBC: France's Macron picks Jean Castex as PM after Philippe resigns

Who is Jean Castex?

Mr Castex, 55, is little known in France, but he is a senior civil servant and has played a key role in the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has picked up the nickname "Mr Deconfinement", after Mr Philippe chose the Republicans party mayor from Prades in the Pyrenees to co-ordinate France's strategy of lifting the lockdown.

He attended the same elite university as Mr Macron and Mr Philippe and, like Mr Philippe, was previously a member of the right-wing Republicans party.

Mr Castex is due to give a TV interview later on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53276582

[ucrdem]

12. More from BBC:

Why Macron is changing his team

Mr Macron came to power three years ago but now faces an economic crisis after the coronavirus pandemic.

In the interview with regional newspapers, he spoke of a "very tough" recovery for France, and focused on the immediate priority of saving jobs, as well as economic, social and environmental reconstruction.

Mr Philippe's future as prime minister had been in doubt for several weeks and he will now take up the post of mayor in Le Havre, after winning the local vote on Sunday.

A removal van and cardboard boxes were seen arriving at his Matignon residence on Friday indicating he was preparing to move out.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53276582

[MicaelS]

13. Can someone explain to me why France chose...

The President / Prime Minister system? Never understood it.

[ucrdem]

14. It seems the current constitution (ca 1958) strengthened the office

and restored the title of "prime minister" to what had previously been the president of the council of ministers, or French cabinet, appointed by the president but directly answerable to the National Assembly, i.e. French congress. His responsibility was and remains to form and run "the government," meaning the council of ministers.

The problem previously was that the PM was at the mercy of the National Assembly who frequently dissolved the government leaving France with caretaker governments between appointments.

The current system, i.e. the Fifth Republic founded by de Gaulle in 1958, gives the PM charge of the government, but limits the control exercised by the National Assembly. The Assembly still has sole power to dismiss the PM, so technically Macron can't force Philippe to resign, but the president can "request" it. He can also ask his PM to form a new government, and apparently Macron had done that once already.

From various sources including: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_France

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Edouard Philippe: France's former PM faces probe into Covid-19 response

A court has launched an inquiry into the French government's handling of the coronavirus response.

The investigation focuses on three senior figures, including outgoing Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, following complaints from unions and doctors.
...
The government has faced criticism over shortages of medical equipment during the pandemic.

Hours after Mr Philippe's resignation, it was announced that the Law Court of the Republic, which deals with claims of ministerial misconduct, would open an inquiry into the way his government handled the pandemic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53287722

They don't hang about, do they?

[ucrdem]

16. Convenient timing isn't it

Let's call it Macron's way of saying Merci pour ce moment